Matsui goes 1 for 2 in Angels debut
March 9, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP)—Hideki Matsui(notes) made his spring debut for the Los AngelesAngels on Tuesday, getting a single in two trips to the plate during a 6-5 winover the San Diego Padres.
Matsui struck out against Chris Young in the first and grounded RadhamesLiz’s(notes) 3-1 pitch up the middle for a hit in the fourth.
Los Angeles Angels' Hideki… AP – Mar 9, 5:54 pm EST Los Angeles Angels' Hideki… AP – Mar 9, 5:51 pm EST
Los Angeles Angels' Hideki… AP – Mar 9, 5:50 pm EST
Los Angeles Angels' Hideki… AP – Mar 9, 5:46 pm EST
Joanne Ordway, of Los Angeles,… AP – Mar 9, 5:32 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 4; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100309/capt.2429b6186a584302baf4cfa94bf78785.padres_angels_spring_baseball_azrf105.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=276&hc=307&q=70&sig=9RBfqwYXinbpbf1HOW.lTA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100309/capt.ee0250fcdbd5435eaadefd042bce9383.padres_angels_spring_baseball_azrf106.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=67&yc=1&wc=278&hc=309&q=70&sig=hHaaNBYituxppjm_cOdTkg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100309/capt.d71bfed0a15e4b0a8e714413b07a2cef.padres_angels_spring_baseball_azrf101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=75&yc=1&wc=263&hc=292&q=70&sig=TGDeZA6Manhe8RrkJKt0PQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100309/capt.bdf28c9355b64774a25009d94b096bff.padres_angels_spring_baseball_azrf102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=85&yc=1&wc=241&hc=268&q=70&sig=Yua1hclMIDhljXPRTSn1Mw--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 5 SD-LAA Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
Matsui agreed to a $6 million, one-year contract with the Angels in Decemberafter spending seven seasons with the New York Yankees. The Japanese slugger hit.274 with 28 homers and 90 RBIs last year, then was selected World Series MVPdespite starting only three of the six games against Philadelphia.
He was scheduled to make his Angels debut on Sunday but the game was rainedout.
Braves’ Wagner throws perfect inning
March 9, 2010
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP)—This time last year, Billy Wagner(notes) was facinglittle leaguers in Virginia and recovering from elbow surgery.
The former All-Star closer, signed by the Braves in the offseason, retiredall three batters he faced Tuesday night in Atlanta’s 7-4 loss to thePhiladelphia Phillies and said he felt comfortable for the first time thisspring.
The left-hander was knocked around in his first appearance last week.
“I worked hard to get back,” Wagner said. “I was having a blast pitchingto Little Leaguers. I didn’t even think about coming back until the LittleLeague season was over. They told me I was done, so I wanted to prove that Iwasn’t.”
Wagner vowed to return to the New York Mets and he did in August, pitchingin two games before he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox. He closed out the seasonin Boston and went the free agent route to Atlanta.
Wagner came into the spring with a new attitude. He decided to drop theintensity a few notches.
“This year I just want to relax and have fun,” Wagner said. “They alreadytold me I was done. I never even thought about coming back because I was havingso much fun with the Little League kids. We went 11-1.”
While he was working on his rehab at the nearby University of Virginia, hegot the itch to pitch back again. He knew he wouldn’t be in New York long andbalked at the trade to Boston where he served as a setup man down the stretch.He wanted to be a closer and the Braves were looking.
“This is a good fit,” Wagner said. “I can still pitch and once I getcomfortable out there again in my normal role, I have something left.”
“Wags is looking great,” Braves manager Billy Cox said. “He’s off to agreat start and we’re excited about him.”
Roy Halladay(notes) pitched three shutout innings and struck out five in his secondspring appearance. Halladay was making his second start in a Phillies uniformsince being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays during the offseason.
Halladay went 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA last season. He said the results didn’tmatter and that he’s just looking do build his stamina for the season. He’spitched five innings this spring without allowing a run.
“I’m just working on my stamina this spring,” Halladay said. “All I amthinking about is throwing strikes. The rest will come.”
Jayson Werth(notes) homered off Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami(notes) in the secondinning and was 2-for-3 on the night.
Kawakami allowed three earned runs in thee innings for the Braves, butPhiladelphia blew the game open, scoring five runs in the sixth off of JoseOrtegano.
NOTES: Braves free agent pickup Troy Glaus(notes) was 3-for-3, upping his springaverage to .750. He’s had hits in his last eight at-bats … Braves opening daystarter Derek Lowe(notes) will start on Tuesday against the New York Mets, followed byTakashi Saito(notes), Kris Medlen(notes), Kyle Cofield, Mariano Gomez, and Jonny Venters.Jonathon Niese(notes) will start for the Mets.
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Former Dodgers CF Willie Davis dies
March 9, 2010
BURBANK, Calif. (AP)—Willie Davis, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ speedy centerfielder for 13 seasons, has died. He was 69.
Burbank police Sgt. Robert Quesada says Davis was found dead Tuesday morningin his Burbank home. Davis appeared in three World Series, including 1966 whenhe committed a Fall Classic-record three errors in one inning.
Quesada says no cause of death was immediately released, but police do notbelieve foul play was involved.
Davis left the Dodgers in 1973 and went on to play for the Montreal Expos,Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and California Angels.
He retired after the 1979 season with a career .279 average and 398 stolenbases.
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Halladay throws 3 shutout innings
March 9, 2010
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP)—Roy Halladay(notes) pitched three shutout innings andstruck out five in his second spring appearance as the Philadelphia Philliesdowned the Atlanta Braves, 7-4, on Tuesday.
Halladay was making his second start since being acquired from the TorontoBlue Jays during the offseason. Halladay went 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA for the BlueJays last season. He said the results didn’t matter and that he’s just lookingdo build his stamina for the season. He’s pitched five innings this springwithout allowing a run.
Jayson Werth(notes) homered off Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami(notes) in the secondinning and went 2 for 3.
Braves free agent pickup Troy Glaus(notes) was 3 for 3, upping his spring averageto .750. He’s had hits in his last eight at-bats.
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Johnson homers twice, Sabathia hit hard
March 9, 2010
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Nick Johnson(notes) hit two home runs while working on his swing, CCSabathia(notes) gave up five runs trying to refine his motion and the New York Yankeeslost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-7 on Tuesday.
Johnson was playing for the second straight day after sitting out sincetweaking his back Thursday when he got a cleat caught in the turf during battingpractice.
Sabathia was hit hard in his second start. He gave up a three-run homer toGarrett Jones(notes) and allowed seven hits. He threw 55 pitches, 34 strikes, a markedimprovement over his first outing: 19 strikes, 17 balls.
Jones also had a double, and Lastings Milledge(notes) had an RBI single in thefour-run first for Pittsburgh.
Street may be questioned in doctor probe
March 9, 2010
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)—Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street(notes) says he has beennotified that federal investigators might want to talk to him about a Canadiandoctor being investigated in probes involving HGH and another drug.
Street says he was told by his agents that he “might be interviewed by theU.S. attorney’s office regarding the case or by the commissioner’s office orboth.”
Street says he visited Dr. Anthony Galea in Toronto in 2007 and 2008 whilethe right-hander was playing for the Oakland Athletics. He was looking for helpwith an irritated nerve in his elbow, then problems with his hip and quadriceps.Street says he received oxygen therapy from Galea but most of the treatment hegot was chiropractic.
Galea was arrested in Canada last October on four charges relating to anunapproved substance called Actovegin.
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Wakefield tosses 3 shutout innings
March 9, 2010
JUPITER, Fla. (AP)—Tim Wakefield(notes) pitched three shutout innings to keep hisspring training ERA at 0.00, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Florida Marlins 9-0on Tuesday.
Wakefield allowed two hits, both singles, and walked none in his secondappearance of the spring. Preparing for his 18th major-league season, he threw22 of 30 pitches for strikes.
The visitors’ batting order looked like a lineup for the Pawtucket Red Sox,with designated hitter Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) the only likely opening day startermaking the three-hour trip from Fort Myers.
Former Marlin Jeremy Hermida(notes) singled home a run in the first inning for hisfirst RBI with Boston. Florida starter Anibal Sanchez(notes) allowed five runs, fourearned, in 2 1-3 innings.
Tests show Reyes has overactive thyroid
March 9, 2010
NEW YORK (AP)—Mets shortstop Jose Reyes has an overactive thyroid and isexpected to remain in New York while the results of additional blood tests areused to determine his treatment.
Doctors cleared Reyes to play Friday after he took a blood test to followone conducted during his physical. But team doctors in New York wanted to take acloser look at the speedster and pulled him out of pregame stretching.
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Reyes said Friday he felt fine and has not experienced any dizziness,fatigue or any other symptoms of a thyroid problem.
The Mets said Tuesday that tests confirmed he had an overactive thyroid. Theadditional test results aren’t expected back before Thursday.
Reyes missed most of last season with an injured right leg.
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Royals C Kendall back at spring training
March 9, 2010
SURPISE, Ariz. (AP)—Royals catcher Jason Kendall(notes) has returned to springtraining and says his divorce and child custody case won’t be a distraction.
Kendall missed the exhibition game Monday against Cincinnati to be in courtin Los Angeles. He returned on Tuesday and told reporters he will not “dignifythe ridiculous accusations” being carried by various media outlets about hisdivorce.
He says he wants his personal life to remain private. Kendall, a three-timeAll Star, brushed off any thought the divorce would affect his play, saying“Not at all.”
Kendall signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Royals in December.The 14-year veteran played the last two seasons in Milwaukee.
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A-Rod ‘at ease’ with ties to doctor
March 9, 2010
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Yankees star Alex Rodriguez(notes) said Tuesday he is at easewith his ties to a Canadian sports doctor embroiled in cross-borderinvestigations involving HGH and another drug, though he still hasn’t talked tofederal authorities about the case.
Speaking a day after Dr. Anthony Galea told The Associated Press he treatedRodriguez last year and prescribed anti-inflammatories but never gave him or anyother athlete HGH, the three-time MVP said he still doesn’t know when he will beinterviewed by federal agents.
“I’m at ease no matter what,” Rodriguez said when asked how he felt aboutGalea’s comments.
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Rodriguez sat in front of his locker at New York’s spring training complexTuesday and spoke to reporters for about 3 1/2 minutes about the situation. Heseemed calm and even laughed at times.
“I got nothing new to report,” he said several times.
Galea was arrested in Canada last October on four charges relating to anunapproved substance used in healing therapy called Actovegin. He is known forusing a technique, called platelet-rich plasma therapy, designed to speedrecovery from injuries. He has used that to treat several high-profile athletes.
Rodriguez said he feels “no pressure, not at all,” even after Galea spokeabout their relationship.
Rodriguez and other baseball players, including Jose Reyes and CarlosBeltran(notes), have been contacted by U.S. federal investigators regarding Galea. TheDenver Post reported Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street(notes) said he was on a listof players federal investigators wanted to interview. Reyes and Beltran eachsaid they did not receive Human Growth Hormone from Galea.
The Yankees third baseman said he didn’t know where his interview would takeplace.
“I’m not sure. Maybe here. I don’t know. I’m not sure,” Rodriguez said.“I’m not sure where Reyes and Beltran did it. I’m not sure.”
When asked if he is choosing not to talk or has been told not to speak,Rodriguez laughed and said he “thinks the latter.”
This had been a relatively quiet spring for Rodriguez compared to last year,when he admitted during an awkward news conference that he used steroids from2001-03.
Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said the team would talkto Rodriguez after federal agents do.
“We didn’t know Alex was seeing this doctor, and we’ve been told he’s goingto cooperate with the authorities in full, and he’s going to answer somequestions for them,” Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner saidafter a news conference in New York. “And until that’s done, there’s justnothing to add.”
Galea, who recently resigned as the team doctor for the Canadian FootballLeague’s Toronto Argonauts, became the focus of authorities’ attention lastSeptember when his assistant, Mary Anne Catalano, was stopped at the U.S. borderin Buffalo, N.Y.
U.S. federal court documents say “20 vials and 76 ampoules of unknownmisbranded drugs including Nutropin (Human Growth Hormone – HGH) and foreignhomeopathic drugs” were found in a car Catalano was driving.
But Galea said Catalano only could have had a tiny, half-empty bottle or oneampoule of HGH because she was bringing the drug across the border for his ownuse. An ampoule is a small sealed vial which is used to contain and preserve asample.
The 51-year-old Galea says he’s taken HGH, which is banned by the majorsports, for a decade because it can improve the quality of life for people over40.
Galea was arrested Oct. 15 after a search warrant was executed at theInstitute of Sports Medicine Health and Wellness Centre in Toronto. He ischarged with selling Actovegin, conspiracy to import an unapproved drug,conspiracy to export a drug and smuggling goods into Canada.
Rodriguez had hip surgery a year ago and Galea said he aided with the star’srehab. Dr. Marc Philippon performed the surgery, and chiropractor Mark Lindsay—who has a history of close ties to Galea—helped monitor Rodriguez’s recovery.
Even if he’s cleared in the investigation, Rodriguez could be in violationof his record $275 million, 10-year contract because a team has the right toapprove doctors that aren’t on its medical staff.
If Rodriguez was treated without club consent, any attempt to determinewhether he violated the contract’s guarantee language or baseball’s collectivebargaining agreement likely would hinge on whether treatment was elective ornecessary.
AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.
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